COMPLETED Date needed for Aussie photo please

[Rufous Treecreeper]

Would love to know what the more educated think the date of this photo is.  I believe it was taken in country Victoria (Branxholme) and is of the Best family.

I thought possibly in the 1880's but not sure how far fashion lagged behind in such areas and perhaps this would make it later.

Any help most welcome.

Momamg

[chinakay]

Yes, I'd say mid 1880s...what a lovely photo.

Don't be too sure that just because they're in Oz they're in a fashion backwoods The ladies' magazines such as Godey's went around the world in just a few weeks carrying in their precious pages the very latest styles. You brought a magazine home with you, picked out a sketch you liked, and took it to your local dressmaker and in a few days...voila...instant fashion

Cheers,
China

[PrueM]

Yes, the young lady at far right is wearing a distinctly mid 1880s dress    Doesn't matter if you were out in the sticks or in the middle of Melbourne, all young ladies would, if at all possible, have dressed in the most up-to-date style they could afford. 

Cheers
Prue

[tedscout]

I have nothing to add date wise, but have you noticed the 3 adult males in the photo.

From the look of those cheeks they are related. Grandfather, father, son???

Can you imagine wearing that gear in the Australian dusty summer.


Beautiful photo - hope you are related

Cheers, Ted

[chinakay]

Oh my yes...it's the same face, isn't it!

And imaging having, repeat, having to wear a spring steel or whalebone corset in an Australian summer

[Rufous Treecreeper]

Thanks everyone, much appreciated and reassuring that I was on the right track.  

When I received the photo via email I was told only 3 names.  The old bloke seated on the left is my 3 x great grandfather Thomas BEST (born 1818), the one on the ground in front of him is his brother Jabez BEST (born 1821) and the lady dressed in black, seated in the middle and holding a fan is their sister Hannah WHITEHEAD.  I think the dark whiskered man is probably the youngest brother, Charles BEST (born 1835).  

But Ted has a very good point - it seems that there is more than 3 years age difference between Thomas and Jabez!  Unfortunately I don't have any contemp. photos of them to judge against.

Thanks again
Mo

[Rufous Treecreeper]

Another question if I may - Do you think the fashionista's (on the far right) black armband signifies mourning?

Mo

[tedscout]

Branxholme is very small these days.

It only has a population of about 250. I wonder if the post office would know if there were any Best's left, or if there was a history buff in town.

Thanks for posting the photo its gorgeous. The lady on the right all dressed up is holding the old ladys hat - her hat is on the grass.

I wonder if she was visiting - she's dressed a lot more fashionable than the other girls.

  Ted

[tedscout]

Mo,

I think you are right.

Look at the mens hats. Not the average Aussie hat of that era. I know they are lying on the ground and hard to see, but they are not average.

Also I have to say when I first saw the photo - my first thought was funeral.

Except I started to look at the young lady on the right and it went out of my mind. Didnt take in the significance of the armband.

If you can find a death of a "Best" in Branxholme around the era of the photo you might get a date?

  Ted